Warren Lake–West Lakes, 3 lakes is a 12.4-mile out-and-back near Donner, CA. The route passes West Lakes before reaching Warren Lake at the turnaround, 6.1 miles in. It climbs 3,838 ft, with sections as steep as 36% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi7,241 – 8,550 ft · steepest grade: 36%12.6 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Rest Area Access Connector 39.34271, -120.33969
Nearest town Donner, CA
Directions
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Warren Lake–West Lakes, 3 lakes
12.4 mi · ▲ 3,838 ft · 6 hr 3 min
Elevation 7,241–8,550 ft
Out & Back
Trailhead: Rest Area Access Connector · 39.34271, -120.33969
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:48 AM · sunset 7:03 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Rest Area Access Connector, heading N.
- 50 ftPass West Lakes.
- 150 ftTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Warren Lake Trail, heading NE.
- 5.1 miTurn right, heading NW.
- 0.1 miReach Warren Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 5.2 miTurn right onto Summit Lake Trail, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn left onto Rest Area Access Connector, heading SW.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
98% dirt2% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:48 AMSunset 7:03 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~100 min). Leave by 5:03 PM for the 7:03 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:19 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Rest Area Access Connector Trailhead
- Lily Pond–West Lakes, 4 lakes 16.2 mi · ▲ 2,130 ft
- West Lakes & Castle Pass via Pacific Crest Trail 4.7 mi · ▲ 654 ft
- Summit Lake–West Lakes, 8 sights 14.9 mi · ▲ 2,544 ft
- Sand Ridge Lake–West Lakes, 4 lakes 10 mi · ▲ 1,262 ft
- Lake Angela–Flora Lake, 7 lakes 11.6 mi · ▲ 1,923 ft
- German Ridge–Lake Angela, 7 lakes 7.5 mi · ▲ 870 ft
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